Senior US Officials Skip Ukraine's 35th Anniversary as Europe Deepens Support

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 24

No senior Trump administration officials joined Ukraine’s 35th independence anniversary events in Kyiv, even as nearly a dozen European leaders attended and Russian strikes hit overnight.
The absence underscored Washington’s pullback at a critical moment: major new US aid has stopped since early 2025, peace talks have stalled, and Patriot interceptor supplies are dwindling.
Andy Burnham was the highest-profile Western leader on the ground, while France and Britain moved to expand military backing, including faster French deliveries and technology sharing for local SCALP production.
Brussels approved $7.1 billion in new defense aid as Ukraine heads into winter facing heavier Russian missile barrages, energy-grid attacks and pressure to negotiate from a weaker position.
Marco Rubio sent a statement backing Ukraine’s sovereignty, but Kyiv’s message was that it wants peace without capitulation as US support becomes less visible.